UPDATE: Middlebury man killed during gunfight with police

Note taped to man's vehicle goaded police

Published 4:11 PM EDT Oct 09, 2012

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. -

A gunfight with police in Middlebury Thursday afternoon ended with one man dead.

Middlebury Police Chief Thomas Hanely said in a press release that 9-1-1 received a call around noon from 57-year-old George Demarais saying he "wanted to die via suicide by cop" and that he would be in the woods behind his home.

After failed attempts to reach Demarais by phone, officers responded to the Case Street home.

Responding officers setup a pertimeter around the front of the home and made efforts to contact Demarais.

Hanley said Demarais came out from the home carrying a long gun and approached Case Street. A responding officer attempted to speak with Demarais but he turned and walked to the back of the house.

Officers found a note taped to Demarais vehicle that read: Come and get me, I hope you can shoot straight because I can."

Demarais began firing at officers from a steep slope behind the home. Demarais was fatally wounded during the gunfight.

Hanley said it is not known if the fatal wound was self-inflicted or caused by police gunfire.

Case Street (Route 116) was closed between Cobble and Quarry roads for several hours.

Vermont State Police are investigating the incident.

We'll have more on this developing story after a news conference scheduled for 9:30 Friday morning.